How can I install Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop?

I managed to install Windows 11 on two unsupported Dell computers,  one is XPS 15 9560 and the other is Dell Precision T3620 Tower workstation, which hosts an old Intel i7-7700 (3.60 GHz) processor, 8GB RAM and no TPM.

Here is the guide: https://www.pctipdaily.com/bypass-windows-11-system-requirements

Trying to install Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop? That’s a no-go on unsupported hardware. It’ll just refuse to install or give you that “This PC doesn’t meet requirements” message. Instead, you need to modify the installer (like removing appraiserres.dll) or tweak registry settings. Some BIOS/UEFI setups have Secure Boot or TPM enabled, which can block the install or cause boot issues. If you’re bypassing requirements, you might want to disable Secure Boot temporarily in BIOS, but be aware that Windows 11 prefers Secure Boot enabled for security reasons. Just know that disabling it might make things easier for the install, but check your BIOS options.

Once Windows 11 is installed, it might not have all the drivers it needs for your hardware (like Wi-Fi, audio, or graphics). Not updating drivers can cause instability or hardware issues. So, after install, head to Dell’s support site, grab the drivers for your model, and install everything that’s missing. Even if your hardware is capable, some features (like Secure Boot or TPM) might be off or incompatible. Don’t just blindly turn on everything in BIOS without knowing what you’re doing. Sometimes, enabling/disabling certain BIOS options can cause boot issues or hardware problems.

Once you install Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop, updates might break things or revert your bypass tweaks. Sometimes, an update can trigger errors or reblock the OS from running. Keep a backup ready, and if you notice issues after an update, you might need to redo some tweaks. People on forums like Reddit, TechNet, or Win10/Win11 communities often share their own experiences and fixes. Search for your specific laptop model and see what others have done successfully or what issues they faced. Learning from others saves you a lot of trial and error.

You're thinking about installing Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop that doesn’t officially support it, right? I’ve tinkered around with similar setups before, and honestly, while it’s tempting to go the unofficial route, there are some downsides you should keep in mind. Here’s my take based on personal experience and what I’ve seen others go through:

• When you bypass the official requirements, you’re basically forcing Windows 11 to run on hardware it wasn’t designed for. This can lead to random crashes, driver problems, or features not working properly. I’ve had times where certain hardware – like Wi-Fi or touchpad – just refused to work right after the install.
• Since the system isn’t officially supported, Microsoft might flag your device for not receiving updates or security patches. Sometimes, updates can even break the system or cause boot issues if the hardware isn’t fully compatible.
• Features like TPM and Secure Boot are there for security reasons. Bypassing them could make your system more vulnerable, especially if you’re handling sensitive data. Plus, some security updates might not install properly, leaving your system less protected.
• Without proper support, you might see degraded performance, battery issues, or overheating. Drivers optimized for unsupported hardware can cause problems, especially on older laptops. When things go wrong (and they often do in unsupported setups), fixing issues can be a nightmare. You might have to dig through forums or do manual driver installs, which is a hassle.

I once tried installing Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop. It worked initially, but after a few updates, I started getting weird crashes and some hardware refused to work properly. Reinstalling or fixing drivers was a pain, and I ended up going back to Windows 10. It’s just not worth the hassle if you rely on your laptop for work or important stuff.

You're right — your Dell XPS 15 9560 with those specs is actually pretty solid, and it’s a shame that the upgrade path to Windows 11 isn’t straightforward. Here’s a straightforward approach to bypass the system requirements check and get Windows 11 running on your unsupported laptop.

How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Dell Laptop
1. Head over to Microsoft Windows 11 download page to download the ISO file.
2. You can use the built-in Media Creation Tool:

• Download the ISO.
• Mount the ISO (double-click it) or use the "Burn" feature to create boot media.
• Alternatively, use Windows Explorer: right-click the ISO and select "Mount," then copy all files to a USB stick formatted as FAT32 or NTFS.

3. This is the key step. You need to edit the installer to skip the "This PC doesn’t meet requirements" check. You can do this by editing the appraiserres.dll file or by adding a registry key during setup.
Simpler approach:  

• Use a bootable USB with the installer files.
• When you start the installation, press Shift + F10 at the language selection screen to open Command Prompt.
• Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup.
• Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and set it to 1.
  Close regedit, then continue with the installation.

Alternatively, for a more straightforward bypass:

• Download Windows 11 ISO.
• Extract the ISO contents (right-click and choose "Extract" or use 7-Zip).
• Locate the sources folder.
• Find the file appraiserres.dll inside the sources folder.
• Rename or delete appraiserres.dll (this file enforces hardware checks).
• Re-create the ISO with this modified folder (using DISM or ISO editing tools) or copy the files directly to the USB drive.

Note: Some guides recommend editing the registry directly during setup or using scripts, but the above method (removing appraiserres.dll) is common for bypassing the TPM and CPU checks.

4. Start the Installation

• Boot from the modified USB drive.
• Follow the prompts.
• When the installer runs and the hardware check is bypassed, you should be able to proceed with the install.

5. Post-installation

• After you install Windows 11 on unsupported Dell laptop, check Device Manager for missing drivers.
• Download and install drivers from Dell’s support site for your XPS 15 9560.
• Make sure Secure Boot and TPM are enabled in BIOS for full Windows 11 features, but even if they’re off, Windows 11 can run (though some features might be limited).

You can install Windows 11 on an unsupported dell laptop or desktop by replacing the appraiserres.dll, which is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file used by Windows Setup to check system compatibility before installation. It verifies if your PC meets Microsoft's minimum requirements (CPU, TPM, RAM, Secure Boot, etc.) for Windows 11.

During installation, Windows runs a compatibility check using appraiserres.dll. If the file is missing or modified, the check fails silently or is skipped entirely. By swapping it with a blank/dummy version (or one from Windows 10), the installer cannot enforce restrictions. This allows installation on unsupported CPUs, no TPM, or insufficient RAM.

To install windows 11 on unsupported dell laptop or desktop:

Step 1: Download a Windows 11 ISO (from Microsoft).

Step 2: Double click the ISO file for mounting. 

Step 3: Navigate to:

\sources\appraiserres.dll

Step 4: Replace it with a blank file renamed to appraiserres.dll. Or, copy the file from a Windows 10 ISO (since Win10 has no strict CPU checks).

Step 5: Repack the ISO and create a bootable USB from this custom Windows 11 ISO.

Proved Cases for Unsupported Dell Laptop & Desktop:

• dell precision 5820
• dell vostro 3520
• dell latitude 7480

The CPU is not supported by Windows 11. You can upgrade the processor to an compatible one or use some trick to install Windows 11 on unsupported dell laptop. You can do this a free app called WiinBootMate, a popular tool that can create bootable USB drives while bypassing Windows 11's TPM, Secure Boot, and CPU requirements. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Get the official ISO from Microsoft's website.
2. Insert a USB flash drive (8GB+ recommended).
3. Import the Windows 11 ISO and choose the USB boot option.
4. Now check the bypass menu under the USB drive name.
5. Leave other settings as default (Partition scheme: GPT, File system: FAT32).
6. Click "START" to begin writing the USB.
7. Boot from the USB (change boot order in BIOS/UEFI).
8. Proceed with installation normally—no errors about TPM/CPU should appear.
9. Complete setup as usual.

I have successfully install Windows 11 on an in-compatible dell laptop N5110, an very old computer with Intel Core i5-2410M. It also come without TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.